Article about Allama Muhammad Abdul Hakeem Sharaf Qadri

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Allama Abdu'l HakTm Sharaf Qadri

The King of Gnostics

By Muhammad Abdu 7 MubTn Nu 'mani Qadri
Translated by Abu Hanzala

It was on 1 st September, 2007 - 1 8 th Sha'ban, 1428 H - that Allama Yasln Akhtar
Misbahi telephoned me with the heart breaking news of the demise of Muhsin-e-
Ahle Sunnat, Sharaf-e-Millat, Hazrat Allama AbduT Hakim Sharaf Qadri Fazil-e-
Lahori. Inna lillihi wa inna ilayhi raji'iin.

Allama Sharaf Qadri went and took a world of knowledge with him. He left the
field of writing, research and translating totally deserted. As soon as he went, it
felt as if the guiding light of this field had extinguished and the saviour of the true
religion had left us. Propagating the mission of Ahlu's Sunnah was in his blood
and he worked tirelessly for the ummah.

Time and again he tried to get the leaders of the Ahlu's Sunnah to congregate and
unite. He fully participated in the Sunni conference of Multan and even published
a report of it. Although he lived in Pakistan, his vision was worldwide. He always
offered his services where they were needed.

It was another Pakistani, Ihsan Ilahi Zahir, who wrote the book al-Barelwiya and
the Saudi government published and promoted it all over the world. Allama Sharaf
Qadri was the first person to write refutations to this book by writing Andhere se
ujale tak and Shishe ke ghar. Later, these two books were gathered and published
together as al-Barelwiya ka tahqiqi aur tanqidi jayeza. This book shattered the
influence of al-Barelwiya and provided such a strong rebuttal of the false

1 Mawlana Munawwar Atiq Rizwi referred to him thus at www.scholarspen.blogspot.com

2 This article appeared in the monthly Kanzu 'I Imdn, Delhi. October 2007

accusations contained in it that proponents of Zahir's book were left
dumbfounded. Whoever read Allama Sharaf's book saw the lies that had been
committed in al-Barelwiya and questioned the motives of the Saudis as to why
they would publish a book that spread so many lies. Allama Sharaf wrote the book
in Urdu but then added to it and translated it to Arabic by the name of Mm Aqdyid
Ahl al-Sunnah and distributed it in the Arab world. This achieved positive results
and those scholars who had been misinformed about the name Barelwi were both
delighted to learn the truth and also amazed.

It is Allama Sharaf Qadri who introduced ATa Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza
Muhaddith-e-Barelwi to the Egyptian scholars. Publication oiBasatin al-Ghufran
and al-Manzumat al-Saldmiya - which are the Arabic translations of Haddyiq-e-
Bakhshish and Saldm-e-Raza respectively - came about due to his efforts.

After reading an introduction to his efforts, let us know see details.

Allama Abdu'l Hakim Sharaf Qadri was born on 24 th Sha'ban [13 th August], 1363
H, in Mirzapiir, District Hoshyarpiir [Punjab]. His father, Molvi Allah Ditta bin
Niir Bakhsh was a pious Sufi. It was his fathers nurturing that alongside being a
leading scholar, Muhaddith, writer and researcher, Allama Sharaf Qadri became a
prominent preacher who caused a revolution.

It was in his early years that he migrated to Lahore with his father. They lived near
the Jamia Mosque in which Allama Ghulam al-Din had become renowned for his
oratory. Allama Sharaf Qadri would often accompany his father to hear his
sermons. Allama Ghulam al-Din would lovingly refer to Allama Sharaf Qadri as
Allama and Fazil-e-Ldhori. Allah made these words of Allama Ghulam al-Din
ring true and in years to come, AbduT Hakim became known as Allama and Fazil-
e-Ldhori.

After his initial education, he received education at the following institutes:

• Jamia Rizwiya Mazhar-ul-Islam, Faisalabad

• Jamia Imdadiya, Bandyal, District Khushab

• Jamia Nizamiya Rizwiya, Lahore

• DaruT Ulum Zia Shams-ul-Islam, Siyal Sharif

In these institutes, he was taught by the greatest scholars of the age, most notably:

• Muhaddith-e-A'zam Pakistan, Allama Sardar Ahmad Chishti Qadri Rizwi
[student of Sadr al-Shariah A'zami], founder of Jamia Rizwiya Mazhar-ul-
Islam, Faisalabad

• Hazrat Allama Ghulam Rasul Rizwi, Shaykh al-Hadith, Jamia Rizwiya,
Faisalabad

• Umdat al-Mudarrism, Hazrat Allama Ata Muhammad Chishti Golrawi
Bandy alwi

• Hazrat Allama Mufti Abdu'l Qayyum Hazarwi, Mufti-e-A'zam Pakistan,
Headteacher of Jamia Nizamiya Rizwiya, Lahore

• Hazrat Allama Mufti Muhammad Amin, Jamia Aminiya Rizwiya,
Faisalabad

• Hazrat Allama Muhammad Ashraf Siyalwi, Shaykh al-Hadith, Zia Shams-
ul-Islam, Siyal Sharif

He taught at various institutes which include:

• Daru'l Ulum Islamiya Rahmania, Haripiir Hazari

• Madrasa Islamiya Ishaat-ul-Ulum, Chakwal

• Jamia Na'imiya, Lahore

• Jamia Nizamiya Rizwiya, Lahore

Wherever he stayed, he continued his writing and publishing. His efforts truly
shone through when he became the Shaykh al-Hadith of Jamia Nizamiya Rizwiya,
Lahore. Spending time with his teacher, Hazrat Allama Mufti Abdu'l Qayyum
Hazarwi, was very fruitful and Allama Sharaf Qadri helped his teacher establish
the Raza Foundation in Lahore from where 30 volumes of Fatawa Ridawiyyah of
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan were published with takhrij [references].

Near the end of his life, Allama Sharaf Qadri left teaching and concentrated fully
on writing. He was working on a translation of the Holy Qur'an which I believe
was left unfinished. May Allah allow one of his students or children to complete
this task.

When I first met Allama Sharaf Qadri is Sirhind for the Urs of Mujaddid-e-Alfi
Thani alaihi'r rahmah, my happiness was at its peak. For years we had
communicated in writing but never had the opportunity to meet. It was during this
meeting or another one that he said regarding his teacher: "Other teachers teach
their students but Muhaddith-e-A'zam would give us our lessons to drink. It was
as though he picked something up and poured it into the heart."

This method of teaching was also found in another student of Sadr al-Shanah
A'zami, namely, Ustad al-Ulama', Hafiz-e-Millat Hazrat Allama Shah Hafiz
Abdu'l Aziz Muhaddith-e-Muradabadi, founder of al-Jamiat al-Ashrafiya,

3 1 heard on QT V from Mufti Munib al-Rahman that Allama Sharaf Qadri did finish this translation - Abu
Hanzala

Mubarakpur, India. He would instill knowledge in his students regardless but
would also give them the spirit to act on this. This is the reason why the blessings
of Hafiz-e-Millat are seen worldwide and the efforts of his students are well
acknowledged.

Hazrat Muhaddith-e-A'zam Pakistan and other teachers instilled pearls of
knowledge in Hazrat Allama AbduT Hakim Sharaf Qadri alaihi'r rahmah and this
resulted in his great aspiration for tabligh which he had throughout his life.
Regarding this ambition, Hazrat Allama Ghulam Rastil Sa'idi writes:

"Hazrat Mawlana Muhammad AbduT Hakim Sahib Sharaf is a young scholar and
his heart contains immeasurable feeling for Ahlu's Sunnah. To strive for the
Alma's Sunnah is his mission and he produces more work than his means allow.
His optimism is great and his efforts are enviable and worthy of copying.

I am acquainted with Sharaf Sahib since my student days when, apart from Nuri
Kitab Khana, Tahore, there was no centre of Ahlu's Sunnah in terms of tabligh.
There was neither a reputable periodical nor any library. There was a drought in
the field of writing and publication. Conversely, the opponents were publishing
numerous books and pamphlets. Sharaf Sahib would often complain of this
situation and his heart was continuously broken due to this famine and the thought
of publishing books in support of Ahlu's Sunnah would frequently trouble him.

A few years later, there was a revolution within Ahlu's Sunnah. Many worthy
periodicals came into existence and libraries were founded in many cities. Various
books of Sunni scholars of yore were published. This encouraged others to start
writing and many new books came into the market." 4

This passage from Allama Sa'idi is enough to understand the revolutionary
endeavours of Allama Sharaf Qadri. Noteworthy is the fact that this passage was
written 32 years ago when Allama Sharaf Qadri was only 32 years of age. Indeed
the services that he rendered thereafter are so vast that detailing them seems very
difficult.

Where Allama Sharaf Qadri was an outstanding teacher, he was also a master of
Logic and Philosophy. It was in his early years of teaching that he published his
marginalia of Ahmad Hasan bar Hamd Allah which was unique and I believe it
has not republished since. After entering the sphere of writing, he began
concentrating on the books and monographs of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan alaihi'r
rahmah. He wrote marginalia to and translated some monographs and also wrote a
brief biography of A 'la Hazrat entitled Yad-e-A 'la Hazrat. From this we can tell

4 Tazkira Akabir-e-Ahle Sunnat, p. 18- 19, Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Bookseller, Kanpur, India

that he had a special love for A'la Hazrat, the Imam of Ahlu's Sunnah and this
was due to the tarbiyah of Muhaddith-e-A'zam Pakistan alaihi'r rahmah.

For the purpose of tabligh, Mawlana established Maktaba Qadriya and published
important books of the scholars of Ahlu's Sunnah. Similarly, he asked other
bookshops to publish these books too. He wrote prologues to Urdu and Arabic
books and some of these are so vast and well researched that they are, in
themselves, worthy of being published separately. For example, his prologue and
epilogue to Bagh-e-Hindutan, translation of al-Shurat al-Hindiya, are so extensive
that they can be classed as books.

He also published al-Hadiqa al-Nadiya of Allama Abdu'l Ghani Nabulsi from
Maktaba Niiriya Rizwiya with his own prologue. When Allama Arshad-ul-Qadri
read this work, he wrote in one of his letters:

"Yesterday, my eyes had the good fortune of seeing al-Hadiqa al-Nadiya. My
heart felt solace. Mawlana Sharaf Qadri's prologue is also a prologue for his
contemporaries. May Allah give this Imam a worthy follower. The prologue is
capturing, strong, thought provoking and full of knowledge. The language does
not seem that of a non-Arab. May Allah reward you all and open the door of
resources from the unseen. You have laid a sound foundation for he spread of
knowledge and wisdom. 5

Now we will look at the written works of Hazrat Allama Sharaf Qadri.

Books in Urdu

1 . Yad-e-ATa Hazrat (80 pages) - this also contains the monograph Fadl al-
Ilm wa 7 Ulama ' by ATa Hazrat' s father

2. Tazkira Akabir-e-Ahle Sunnat Pakistan (592 pages) - this important book
has also been published by Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Bookseller, Kanpur

3. Sawanih Siraj al-Fuqaha - this is a biography of Mufti Siraj Ahmad
Kanpuri which also contains a fatwa of ATa Hazrat on inheritance

4. AhsanuT Kalam fi MasalatiT Qiyam

5. Masayil Ahle Sunnat

6. Sunni Conference Multan (detailed report and suggestions)

7. Sunni Conference Multan ka pas manzar

8. Andhere se ujale tak

9. Shishe ke ghar

5 Letter from Allama Arshad-ul-Qadri to Mawlana Muhammad Mansha Tabish Qusuri - 13* February,
1979. Akabir-e-Ahle Sunnat, p. 24

10. al-Barelwiya ka tahqiqi aur tanqidi jayeza (amalgamation of books 8 and 9
above)

1 1. Ghayat al-Ihtiyat fi Masala Hilat al-Isqat (expiation for acts of worhip)
12.Nidaye Ya RasulAllah

13. Azmaton ke pasban ya'ni Tazkira Akhyar-e-Millat (biographies of Sunni

Akabir and scholars)
14.Niir Niir Chehre (Biographies of various Akabir and Aslaf)
1 5. Khulafaye Imam Ahmad Raza

16.Lamaat Imam Rabbani (collection of 3 articles on Mujaddid Alfi Thani)
17. Maqalat-e-Rizwiya (12 essays about A'la Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza

Muhaddith Barelwi rahimahullah. Published by al-Majma' al-Islami,

Mubarakpiir, India, 136 pages)
18.Maqalat Sirat-e-Tayyiba (collection of articles on the Sirah of the Prophet

sallAllahu alaihi wasallam)

19. Aqayid-o-Nazriyat (translation ofMin AqayidAhl al-Sunnah)

Books in Arabic

20. Min Aqayid Ahl al-Sunnah

21. Hawl Mubhath al-Tawassul

22. al-Hayat al-Khalidah

23. al-Mu'jizat wa Karamat al-Awliya'

24. al-Mirdat Hashiya al-Mirqat (fi'l Mantiq)
25.Madmatal-Ilm

Translations (title of the translation - the translated book - the author)

26. Barakat Aal-e-Rasiil - al-Sharaf al-Muabbad - Allama Nabhani

27. Mazarat-e-Awliya' - Kashf al-Niir an Ashab al-Qubiir - Allama Abdu'l
Ghani Nabliisi

28. Islami Aqayid - Adillah Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l Jamaah - Allama Sayyid
Yusuf Hashim Rifai

29. Ta'aruf Fiqh-o-Tasawwuf - Tahsil al-Ta'arruf fi Ma'rifah al-Fiqh wa'l
Tasawwuf - Shaykh Muhaqqiq Abdu'l Haq Muhaddith Dihlawi

30. Translation of Ashiatu'l Lum'at - Shaykh Abdu'l Haq Muhaddith Dihlawi
(volumes 4,5,6)

3 1 . Zindah Jawed Khushbiien - Min Nafhat al-Khuhid - Shaykh Muhammad
Salih Farfur, Damascus

32. Sada Bahar Khushbiien - Min Rash'hat al-Khuliid - Shaykh Muhammad
Salih Farfur, Damascus

33. Translation of Tahqiq al-Fatwa - Allama Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi

34. Translation of Mutala' al-Musarrat Sharh Dalayil al-Khairat - Allama
Muhammad Mahdi Fasi

There are some books that are not mentioned in the above list that were written as
articles or prologues.

Let us know mention his marginalia. We have already mentioned al-Mirdat
Hashiya al-Mirqat; the remaining are:

Marginalia [Hawashi]

35. Hashiya

36. Hashiya

37. Hashiya

38. Hashiya

39. Hashiya

40. Hashiya

4 1 . Hashiya

42. Hashiya

43 . Hashiya

44. Hashiya

45. Hashiya

46. Hashiya

Tuhfa Nasaih
Badai' Manzum
Karima
Nam-e-Haq
Nahw MTr
Qadi Mubarak
Matul

Hamd Allah
Sadra
Mir Zahid
Risala Qutbiyah
Maibzi

Sayyid Yusuf Husaini
Shaykh Ali Raza
Shaykh Sa'di Shlrazi
Shaykh Sharfuddin
Mir Sayyid Sharif Jurjani
Arabic [unpublished]
Arabic [unpublished]
Urdu [unpublished]
Urdu [unpublished]
Urdu [unpublished]
Urdu [unpublished]
Urdu [unpublished]

Prologues [Taqdimat]

Many of Allama Sharaf Qadri's prologues are extensive with a few exceptions.
These are:

47.Saifal-Jabbar

48. Baghi Hindustan

49. Do AhmFatwe

50. al-Hadiqa al-Nadiya

5 1 . Ghayat al-Tahqiq of ATa Hazrat

52. Tahqiq al-Fatwa
53.Madarij al-Nubiiwwah

54. Fawaid Makkiyah

55. Qawwali Ki Sharai Haisiyat
56.Mirat al-Tasanif

57. Ghunyat al-Talibm

58. Fuyuz Ghawth-e-Yazdani

59. Shifa' Sharif

60. Nahw MTr
61.Mirqat
62.Mutala' al-Musarrat

It is possible that there are other prologues too.

Another achievement of Allama Sharaf Qadri is getting Fath al-Rahman ji Ithbat
Madh 'hab al-Nu 'man of Shaykh AbduT Haq Muhaddith Dihlawi translated and
published. The translator is Mawlana Muhammad Muhyuddin. The book is written
is unparalleled in support of the Hanafi madh'hab. The translation is called Tdyeed
Madh 'hab Hanafi Ahadith Mubarakah Ki RoshniMein. It has been published by
Arshad Brothers and is available in India. It is a valuable read.

To conclude, Hazrat Allama Sharaf Qadri spent his whole life in the service of
Islam and spreading knowledge. His life is a shining example for his
contemporaries and young scholars alike.